Should I Pickup Royce Freeman? Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook

With Kyren Williams (ankle) and Ronnie Rivers (knee) placed on IR, there were plenty of touches to go around in the Los Angeles Rams' backfield. They brought back a familiar face in Darrell Henderson Jr., but Royce Freeman and rookie Zach Evans were also expected to be in the mix.

Henderson spent a significant amount of time with this organization, and Sean McVay has a great deal of trust in the 26-year-old. Nevertheless, this backfield is likely to be divided between at least two backs while Williams is out.

Should I pick up Freeman? What did he do in Week 7? Let's dive in.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

What Did Royce Freeman Do In Week 7? 

Freeman was outsnapped by Henderson 39 to 29 in the first game without Williams. The veteran Freeman had 12 attempts, gaining a solid 66 yards but without any touchdowns, and he didn't receive any targets in the passing game. Overall, Henderson had 19 touches compared to Freeman's 12, and both backs had productive performances.

The rookie Evans didn't see any playing time on Sunday, indicating that Freeman has a role in the offense for the short term. With Williams and Rivers sidelined for at least three more weeks, there is ample opportunity for the veterans in the Rams' backfield to deliver.

In the short term, Freeman appears to be the secondary back in a pass-first offense, but he managed an impressive 5.5 yards per carry against a formidable Steelers' defense. In the coming weeks, it seems likely that the journeyman will receive 8-12 touches and can be considered as an RB4 with RB3 upside.

Is Royce Freeman A Good Fantasy Football Pickup For Week 8?

The Rams face the Cowboys next week, a team that ranks 26th in points allowed to running backs per game this season. The matchup doesn't appear favorable, and the game script is likely to put the Rams in passing situations more often.

As the second man in a split backfield, Freeman isn't an ideal addition, and he shouldn't be your go-to option for Week 8. However, if you're planning ahead and need a fill-in for Week 9, Freeman could be a valuable choice, given that the Rams will be up against the Packers, who have allowed the third-most points to running backs this year.

Unless you're in a deep league, consider adding Freeman only as a last-resort option or if you're already looking ahead to Week 9. It's important to note that Williams will likely resume his role when he returns in Week 11 or 12, reducing Freeman's current value.

More Fantasy Football Analysis